High molecular weight products

ABSTRACT

The present invention describes the production of high molecular weight polyhydric alcohols and their derivatives. In particular the urethane reaction products of polyisocyanates and polyhydric alcohols are described.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 081,952, filed Oct. 4, 1979 abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to products and processes useful in the manufacture of synthetic resins.

2. Description of the Art Practices

Hydroformylation is basically defined as the addition of a formyl group through the reaction of an unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The basic technology of the manufacture of hydroformylated products and consequently their derivatives is amply set out hereinafter. Among the difficulties which must be met in the manufacture of hydroformylated products is the consideration that hydrogen gas, an explosive, and carbon monoxide, a hazardous material, are utilized in the process. Hydroformylation processes are also dependent on expensive metallic catalysts such as carbonyls which have high toxicity and high cost. The conditions for running a hydroformylation reaction also involve the use of substantial temperature and pressure thus necessitating costly equipment which must be maintained.

Thus due to the various factors and considerations which go into the manufacture of hydroformylated products and their derivatives it is essential that the reactions individually and cummulatively give high purity of the desired end product and high yield thereby avoiding excessive handling of hazardous materials while minimizing the high capital cost and maintenance of such production facilities.

In the past several attempts have been made to prepare hydroformylated products or similar materials such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,437,600 to Gresham et al issued Mar. 9, 1948. the Gresham patent relates to the synthesis of organic oxygen containing compounds, in particular aldehydes. U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,276 to McKeever et al issued Dec. 12, 1950 describes ester-acetals obtained with cobalt catalysts. U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,468 to Mckeever issued June 3, 1952 describes the process of preparing nonadecyl glycols.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,090 issued June 19, 1962 to Alderson et al discusses the reaction of hydrocarbons with aldehydes and higher alcohols in methanol to prepare organic oxy compounds. The Alderson et al patent sets forth a number of metallic catalysts which may be employed in effecting the reactions described therein.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,871 issued July 10, 1962 to Buchner et al the production of heptadecane-dicarboxylic acid is described. Foreman et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,640 issued Jan. 4, 1966 describes the production of olefinically unsaturated alcohols which are of use in manufacturing some of the end products of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,898 issued to Van Winkle et al on Jan. 7, 1969 discusses the use of cobalt complexes with certain phosphine compounds in the production of primary alcohols with carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,190 issued Sept. 22, 1970 to Olivier discusses hydrocarbonylation of olefins using certain metal salts. The foregoing reference also discusses the recovery of the complexed metal catalyst. In a patent to Ramsden issued Jan. 16, 1973 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,560, the production of polyolefins and other oxygenated organic compounds which are polyunsaturated is discussed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,459 issued Jan. 22, 1974 to Frankel a process is described for converting unsaturated vegetable oil into formyl products which are subsequently reduced to the corresponding hydroxymethyl derivative or oxidized to the corresponding carboxy products. U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,442 issued Aug. 12, 1975 to Friedrich discusses a complementary system to that of the Frankel patent whereby rhodium catalysts are recovered from the spent hydroformylation reactants. Frankel, again in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,231, issued Dec. 23, 1975 discusses a process of preparing carboxy acid products in high yields while minimizing isomerization of the starting unsaturated vegetable oil. Miller et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,637 issued June 6, 1978 discusses the use of formyl stearic acid to prepare bis acyloxymethylstearic acid which is stated to be useful as a plasticizer.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,332 issued Jan. 6, 1976 to Wilkes discusses hydroformylation reactions in which the destructive disassociation of the catalyst is inhibited by the presence of organic nitrogen compounds. Reichspatentamt Patentschrift No. 745,265 to Mannes et al published Mar. 1, 1944 discusses the preparation of dicarboxylic acids and their salts. In Bundesrepublik Deutschland Pat. No. 965 697 issued June 13, 1957 to Blaser and Stein the reaction of unsaturated alcohols and their derivatives with metal carbonyls and carbon monoxide is discussed. A by-product which is obtained through the technology of Blaser et al includes substantial amounts of monoformylated product. Similarly a formylation technique which results in a monoformylated product when using unsaturated alcohols is discussed in an article by Ucciani et al in the Bull. Soc. Chim. (France) 1969 p. 2826-2830. Similarly Bundesrepublik Pat. No. 1,054,444 published Apr. 9, 1959 to Waldmann and Stein discusses the treatment of unsaturated fatty substances with formaldehyde in the presence of a carboxylic anhydride and an acidic catalyst to provide formyl products.

Substantially work has been done on the production of various hydroformylated products by the United States Department of Agriculture at both the Eastern and Western Regional Research Laboratories. For example, in an article by Roe entitled "Branched Carboxylic Acids from Long-Chain Unsaturated Compounds and Carbon Monoxide at Atmospheric Pressure" published at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 37, p. 661-668 (1960). The production by direct carboxylation at atmospheric pressure of unsaturated acids with carbon monoxide or formic acid is discussed. The hydroformylation of unsaturated fatty esters is discussed by Frankel et al at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 46, p. 133-138 (1968). Frankel has also reported a selective catalyst system for the hydroformylation of methyl oleate utilizing rhodium catalyst in the presence of triphenylphosphine in an article entitled "Methyl 9(10)-Formylstearate by Selective Hydroformylation of Oleic Oils" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 48, p. 248-253 (1971).

In a paper presented at the American Oil Chemists' Society meeting in Atlantic City, N.J. in 1971, Dufek et al discusses the esterification and transesterification of dicarboxylic acids under the title "Esterification and Transesterification of 9(10)-Carboxystearic Acid and Its Methyl Esters". The foregoing article was published at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 49 (5) p. 302-306 (1972). Frankel, again, discusses the use of specific catalysts to obtain hydroformylated products in an article titled "Selective Hydroformylation of Polyunsaturated Fats With a Rhodium-Triphenylphosphine Catalyst", J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 49, p. 10-14 (1972). Friedrich at Vol. 17, No. 3 of Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev. (1978) presents an article entitled "Low-Pressure Hydroformylation of Methyl-Oleate With an Activated Rhodium Catalyst".

Pryde, working with Frankel and Cowan discuss hydroformylation via the oxo reaction, Koch carboxylation and Reppe carbonylation in an article entitled "Reactions of Carbon Monoxide with Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Derivatives: A Review", reported at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 49, p. 451-456 (1972).

Friedrich discusses the hydroformylation of unsaturated esters combined with catalyst recovery in an article entitled "Hydroformylation of Methyl Oleate with a Recycled Rhodium Catalyst and Estimated Costs for a Bath Process" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 50, p. 455-458 (1973). A similar area of technology is also reported by Frankel et al in an article entitled "Hydroformylation of Methyl Linoleate and Linolenate with Rhodium-Triphenylphosphine Catalyst" from I&EC Product Research & Development, Vol. 12, p. 47-53 (1973).

Certain condensation polymers prepared from pentaerythritol acetal derivatives are reported in an article "Poly(Amide-Acetals) and Poly(Ester-Acetals) from Polyol Acetals of Methyl (9(10)-Formylstearate: Preparation and Physical Characterization" reported at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 53, p. 20-26 (1976). Compounds obtained through hydroformylation technology useful as plasticizers are discussed in a Frankel et al article entitled "Acyl Esters from Oxo-Derived Hydroxymethylstearates as Plasticizers for Polyvinyl Chloride" printed in the J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 52, p. 498-504 (1975).

Friedrich in an article entitled "Oxidation of Methyl Formylstearate with Molecular Oxygen" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 53, p. 125-129 (1976) reports the use of air or oxygen to form methyl carboxystearate from methyl formylstearate in an emulsion with a soluble rhodium complex. The reuse of catalyst in hydroformylation reactions is described by Awl in an article entitled "Hydroformylation with Recycled Rhodium Catalyst and One-Step Esterification-Acetalation: A Process for Methyl 9(10)-Methoxymethylenestearate from Oleic Acid" which is printed in J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 53, p. 190-195 (1976).

Useful diols for resin purposes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,477 issued Apr. 19, 1960 to Hostettler. Nonadecanediols are described as being utilized in urethane formulations in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,414 to DeWitt et al issued Mar. 29, 1966. The production of triols which are not particularily useful in resins due to the close positioning of the hydroxyl groups is reported in Improved Synthesis of 1,1,1-trimethylolalkanes from Hexanal and Nonanal J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 45, p. 517 (July 1968) by Moore and Pryde.

Frankel et al in a paper entitled Catalytic Hydroformylation and Hydrocarboxylation of Unsaturated Fatty Compounds at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 54, p. 873A (1977) also describes formylation technology. Frankel also describes the use of carbonyl metallic compounds in hydroformylations in an article entitled "Catalytic Hydroformylation of Unsaturated Fatty Derivatives with Cobalt Carbonyl" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 53, p. 138-141 (1976). The use of esters of various carboxystearic acids is discussed by Dufek et al in an article entitled "Some Esters of Mono-, Di-, and Tricarboxystearic Acid as Plasticizers: Preparation and Evaluation" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 53, p, 198-203 (1976). Dufek et al also report catalyst recovery in an article entitled "Recovery of Solubilized Rhodium from Hydroformylated Vegetable Oils and Their Methyl Esters" in J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 54, p. 276-278.

Frankel discusses hydroformylation generally in an article entitled Selective Hydroformylation of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Esters at Annals N.Y. Academy of Sciences 214: 79 (1973). Catalyst technology is reviewed at Recent Developments in Hydroformylation Catalysis in Catal. Rev. 6 (1) page 49 et seq. (1972).

Dufek alone at J. am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 55, p. 337-339 (1978) reports on the conversion of methyl 9(10) formylstearate in an article entitled "Conversion of Methyl 9(10)-Formylstearate to Carboxymethylstearate".

Acetal esters obtained through hydroformylation technology are reported by Adlof et al in an article entitled "Preparation and Selective Hydrolysis of Acetal Esters" at J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 54, p. 414-416 (1977). Selective catalyst systems are again reported by Frankel in the J. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc. 54, p. 873a-881a (1977) in an article entitled "Catalytic Hydroformylation and Hydrocarboxylation of Unsaturated Fatty Compounds".

The plasticization of polyvinylchloride resins is also reported in patent applications and coded P.C. 6333 and 6375 bearing respectively the titles "Acetoxymethyl Derivatives of Polyunsaturated Fatty Triglycerides as Primary Plasticizers for Polyvinylchloride", and "Alkyl 9,9(10,10)-Bis(acyloxymethyl)octadecanoates as Primary Plasticizers for Polyvinylchloride".

Each of the foregoing to the extent that it is applicable to the present invention is herein incorporated by reference.

The basic purpose of the present invention is to describe as end products the preparation of high molecular weight polyhydric alcohols and their useful urethane reaction products formed by the condensation of the polyhydric alcohol with a polyisocyanate. Of course several other uses of the technology embodied in this patent are readily apparent.

Throughout the specification and claims of the present invention percentages and ratios are by weight and temperatures are in degrees of Celsius unless otherwise indicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a composition of matter comprising a derivative of a polyol selected from the group consisting of

    (a) H(CH.sub.2).sub.h CH)CH.sub.2 OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.k CH.sub.2 OH

and

    (b) CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.m [C(CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2 ].sub.n (CH.sub.2).sub.p [C(CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2 ](CH.sub.2).sub.r [C(CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2 ].sub.s (CH.sub.2).sub.t CH.sub.2 OH

and mixtures thereof wherein the derivative of the polyol is selected from the group consisting of the poly(oxy)alkylene adducts, the caprolactone adducts and the sulfates of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof; wherein n plus q plus s are integers the sum of which is from 1 to 3; n, q, and s are 0 or 1,; m through t are integers the sum of which is from 12 to 20; h and k are non-zero intergers the sum of which is from 12 through 20; and, k and t are each 3 or greater.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The products of the present invention are formed through hydroformylation which is the process for the production of aldehydes from olefinically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. The aldehydes produced generally correspond to the compounds obtained by the addition of a hydrogen and a formyl group to an olefinically unsaturated group in the starting material thus saturating the olefinic bond.

The useful products of the present invention are prepared by hydroformylating an unsaturated alcohol of the formula

    H(CH.sub.2).sub.a (CH═CH).sub.b (CH.sub.2).sub.c (CH═CH).sub.d (CH.sub.3).sub.3 (CH═CH).sub.f (CH.sub.2).sub.g CH.sub.2 OH

where hereinafter (1) a and g are not equal to 0; (2) the integers b plus d plus f are equal to y which has a value of from 1 to 3; (3) the sum of the integers a plus c plus e plus g is equal to x; and (4) x plus 2y is equal to from 13 to 21; (5) m through t are integers the sum of which is from 12 through 20; (6) n plus q plus s are 1 through 3, (7) n, q, and s are 0 or 1, preferably such that the sum of m through t is from 14 to 18 and x plus 2y is 15 to 19; and (8) k and t are each 3 or greater. It is particularly preferred that h plus k are non-zero integers the sum of which is from 12 through 20, preferably 14 through 18 and where h, k, m, and t each are 4, 5 or 6 or greater. It is also preferred that n, and s are 0 and q is 1. A second preferred embodiment is where n, p, r, and s are 0 and m plus t is 11 through 19.

More preferably the starting raw material is oleyl alcohol although linoleyl or linolenyl alcohol may be employed. It is of course noted that any number of synthetic unsaturated alcohols may also be employed in the present invention. However, for most purposes the naturally occurring alcohol derived from plant sources are presently most convenient and inexpensive.

The unsaturated alcohol is reacted with hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium catalyst as later described to form the corresponding formyl alcohol having the formula

    CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.m [CH(CHO)].sub.n (CH.sub.2).sub.p [CH(CHO)].sub.q (CH.sub.2).sub.r [CH(CHO)].sub.s (CH.sub.2).sub.t CH.sub.2 OH

wherein the various subscript numbers are as previously described.

The addition of hydrogen and a carbon monoxide is accomplished in practice by conveniently adding stoichiometric amounts of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to give the formyl alcohol. To assure completeness of the reaction the amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be each maintained at from about 1.5:0.5 to about 0.5:1.5 molar ratio to one another. it is noted that the ratio is not critical as long as the pressure is maintained in the reaction vessel by the component gases and that the amount of hydrogen is not so great as to substantially reduce the unsaturated starting material.

The rhodium catalyst as later described is necessary in the hydroformylation reaction in that it has been found that the use of the more conventional cobalt catalyst results in a substantial amount of cross-linking gelation. It is believed that the gelation is due to the coproduction of polyhemiacetals and polyacetals in competition with the production of the hydroformylated alcohol. It was at first believed by the author that it would be necessary, even with a rhodium catalyst, to employ the ester of the unsaturated alcohol e.g. oleyl acetate to avoid the unwanted by-products. Of course the ester is more expensive and eventually is converted to the alcohol in any event.

Higher yields of product are obtained through the use of the rhodium catalysts than if a cobalt catalysts is employed. It has also been observed that a much higher degree of isomerization of the double bond occurs with a cobalt catalyst than with a rhodium catalyst.

The conditions for pressure and temperature during the hydroformylation are conveniently conducted at from about 90 degrees C. to about 170 degrees C., preferably from about 110 degrees C. to about 130 degrees C. Above the higher temperatures listed above increased amounts of unwanted byproducts are formed in the reaction mixture. The pressure conditions are such that the pressure in the sealed system is maintained at from about 20 to about 500 atmospheres, preferably from about 30 to about 100 atmospheres absolute during the hydroformylation.

The preferred end product obtained from conducting the foregoing process is 9(10) formyl octadecanol when the starting material is oleyl alcohol. The positioning of the 9(10) indicates that the product obtained is a mixture of the 9 and 10 isomer with respect to the formyl group. One additional reason for using a rhodium catalyst is that if a cobalt catalyst were employed a considerable amount of terminal aldehyde would be formed due to bond migration prior to the addition of the formyl group. When the terminal aldehyde group is formed the resultant alcohol obtained by carrying out the remainder of the herein described process is unsuitable for many of the purposes that the geminal alcohols may be utilized for.

It should also be appreciated that if 9,12-linoleyl alcohol is the starting material then the formyl alcohol so formed will be a 9(10), 12(13) diformyloctadecanol. That is, the end product obtained here will actually be a mixture of the 9-12,9-13,10-12,10-13 diformyl alcohols. Similarly without discussing all the particular isomers present when 9,12,15-linolenyl alcohol is employed the product so obtained will be a mixture of the 9(10),12(13),15(16) triformyloctadecanol isomers.

It is particularly important that the expensive rhodium catalyst is recovered. This may be conveniently done by distillation of the formyl alcohol leaving the rhodium in the residue. What is particularly surprising is that the rhodium can be recovered from the distillate in that the art would predict that when hydroformylating an unsaturated alcohol that the products obtained would include considerable quantities of polyhemiacetals and polyacetals as a portion or all of the reaction product and that these products would not be recoverable by distillation. Thus not only is the desired end product achieved in a high degree of purity and yield through the use of the rhodium catalyst but the rhodium catalyst is recoverable in extremely high quantities from the reaction mixture.

It should also be emphasized that if the polyhemiacetals and polyketals were formed in the reaction mixture that it is very likely that the reaction components would undergo a great change in viscosity to the point of forming a semi-solid product due to the extensive cross-linking of the acetal and ketal linkages. Thus a substantial reason exists for avoiding the polyhemiacetal and polyacetal formation through the use of a rhodium catalyst.

It may be stated that the polyacetal and polyhemiacetal formation might be prevented by the utilization of the corresponding unsaturated acid or its ester in place of the unsaturated alcohol. However, this substitution which eventually involves the acid ester is undesirable in that an aqueous neutralization step is required which forms a soap as a byproduct. The soap so formed then emulsifies the reaction products and the water present to make separation extremely difficult thus diminishing recovery of both the alcohol and the expensive catalyst. Thus the present invention is highly selective to both the unsaturated alcohol and the particular rhodium catalyst so employed.

Any convenient source of rhodium may be employed as in the present reaction mixture the rhodium catalyst is actually converted through the presence of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide into its active form which is a rhodium carbonyl hydride. Conveniently the source of rhodium for use in the rhodium catalyst may be rhodium metal, rhodium oxide, and various other rhodium salts such as rhodium chloride, rhodium dicarbonyl chloride dimer, rhodium nitrate, rhodium trichloride and other similar materials.

The rhodium catalyst in the present hydroformylation reaction is preferably present with a ligand such as a trisubstituted phosphine or trisubstituted phosphite. The term trisubstituted includes both alkyl and aryl compounds and the substituted compounds of the alkyl and aryl compounds. A particularly valuable ligand for the rhodium carbonyl hydride is triphenylphosphite or triphenylphosphine in that both compounds are particularly useful in minimizing migration of the double bond thereby avoiding a large number of isomers with respect to the formyl group including the undesired terminal formyl compound as previously discussed. In general triaryl phosphines or triarylphosphites may be used for this purpose in the formation of the rhodium carbonyl hydride ligand. In addition, the foregoing materials are extremely valuable in minimizing the undesired reaction of saturation of the double bond or the reduction formyl group. This frequently occurs in the absence of such ligands because the rhodium catalyst functions excellently as a hydrogenation catalyst. That is the ligand tends to eliminate such side reactions.

In general anyone of several other additional ligands may be used with the rhodium catalyst. Such additional ligands are discussed in the Selective Hydroformylation of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Esters by Frankel in the Annals N.Y. Academy of Science 214: 79 (1973).

The various ligands are conveniently employed in mole ratio to the rhodium metal content of the catalyst of from about 2 to 50 preferably from about 3 to 20. The rhodium catalyst based upon its metal content is conveniently employed in catalytic amounts preferably from about 20 ppm to about 10,000 ppm, most preferably from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm by weight of the unsaturated alcohol.

The various formyl alcohols are useful as previously stated in preparing the highly desired gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohols. The alcohols may be formed from the foregoing formyl alcohols via a Tollens' reaction (aldol condensation followed by a crossed-Cannizaro reaction).

Schematically the Tollens' reaction is as described below. ##STR1## wherein the above formula R indicates an organic moiety, compound (2) is a hydroxymethyl aldehyde and MOH is a strong base.

The Tollens' reaction is thus carried out by reacting one mole of a monoformylated alcohol with two moles of formaldehyde in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen. Where the formyl alcohol contains more than one formyl group, two moles of formaldehyde are required for each formyl group present. Thus if the reactant is formyloctadecanol then two moles of formaldehyde are required for conversion to the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohol whereas if linoleyl alcohol is utilized in the first instance to give a diformyloctadecanol then four moles of formaldehyde are required to obtain the di-geminaloctadecanol. Conveniently an excess of up to 1.5 preferably up to 1.2 times the amount of formaldehyde actually required to form the corresponding gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohol is employed in the present invention. A convenient manner of adding the formaldehyde in the Tollens' reaction is by using a methanol solution of formaldehyde.

The Tollens' reaction utilizes a strong base as both a reactant and a catalyst. Such strong bases include sodium, potassium or calcium hydroxide. Other strong bases such as carbonates or other hydroxides may be used as well. The strong base is conveniently employed on an equivalent basis per formyl group to convert the formyl group to the hydroxy methyl group. The amount of base required in the Tollens' reaction is at least an equivalent of that required preferably up to 1.5, most preferably up to 1.2 equivalents. The Tollens' reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 0 degrees C. to about 70 degrees C.

The crude gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohol so formed is washed with water to remove any excess caustic and salts formed and then obtained in a relatively pure state by vacuum drying.

In obtaining the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohol of the present invention the crossed-Cannizzaro reaction predominates over the rate of reaction for the simple Cannizzaro reaction. The Cannizzaro reaction which is promoted by base, water, and heat is the process by which an aldehyde reacts with itself to form the corresponding alcohol and formate salt. That is, in the present invention the formyl group on the formyl alcohol reacts faster with formaldehyde to give the alcohol than does the formaldehyde react with itself.

It is also surprising that the formation of hemiacetal which may be acid or base catalyzed does not occur upon the addition of base to the formyl alcohol while forming the intermediate hydroxymethyl formyl alcohol. Thus two potential side reactions, the Cannizzaro and the hemiacetal formation (and thereafter the acetal) which might be expected given the reactants and the processing conditions involved do not in fact occur and the useful alcohol is obtained in substantial quantities.

It has been found, however, in the present invention that the more complicated crossed-Cannizzaro surprisingly predominates in rate and amount of product (gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohol) produced despite the steric hinderance of the larger formyl alcohol molecule even under conditions which are known to promote the simple Cannizzaro reaction.

An alternative method of accomplishing the formation of the geminal alcohol is to use only about one-half the equivalent amount of the formaldehyde required in the Tollens' reaction thereby forming the corresponding hydroxymethyl formyl alcohol via the aldol condensation. That is, the hydroxymethyl group is attached to the carbon in the alpha position to the formyl group. Where a polyformyl alcohol is the intermediate product the formaldehyde is halved from that utilized in the Tollens' reaction to give the corresponding polyhydroxymethyl polyformyl alcohol.

This variation of forming the geminal alcohol eliminates the need for the strong base required in the Tollens' reaction and utilizes instead only catalytic amounts of base which may be either a weak or strong base. A preferred weak base is triethylamine. Even here some care must be taken as it is possible even when using a weak base to obtain compound (1) as the Cannizzaro reaction may compete with the aldol condensation.

The hydroxymethyl formyl alcohol so formed by this alternative route is then reduced to the alcohol conveniently by using hydrogen gas and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst such as copper chromite, or nickel, via conventional hydrogenation practice or by lithium aluminum hydride production. A significant advantage to the alternative route is the absence of large amounts of salt and solvents needed in the Tollens' reaction route.

A distinct advantage in the geminal alcohol of the present invention is that it is a liquid at room temperature and further has no tertiary hydrogens which are a weak point for chemical attack on the molecule.

A mixture of the diol and the geminal alcohol is obtained by reacting the unsaturated alcohol to obtain the corresponding formyl alcohol. Thereafter the formyl alcohol is split into two streams, the first of which is processed as previously discussed to give the geminal alcohol while the second stream is reduced by hydrogenation to give the diol. The hydrogenation is generally carried out as discussed in the alternative route for preparing the geminal alcohol. The diol and the geminal alcohol are then recombined in the desired proportions which are preferably in a weight ratio of from about 2:1 to about 1:100 more preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:75. The preferred value for the sum of h and k is from 14 to 18. The liquid nature of the geminal alcohol aids in solublizing the normally solid diol thus giving a product which is easy to compound.

The products of the present invention are useful in preparing polyurethanes. Among the products which may be obtained from the alcohols are rigid foams and thermosetting elastomers. Additional uses of the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)alcohols of the present invention include sealants, polyvinyl alcohol platicizers, and poly(oxy)alkylene adducts such as ethylene and propylene oxide adducts for polyurethanes or detergents. The poly(oxy)alkylenes and their halogenated derivatives (especially chlorinated) are particularly useful in polyurethanes. The alcohols formed in the present invention may be reacted with an anionic species to give surfactant products such as the sulfated reaction products of the alcohol. Additional surfactants may be formed by first adducting the alcohol with a poly (oxyalkylene such as ethylene or propylene oxide and then adding the sulfate group. The present invention also contemplates the caprolactone adducts of the alcohols.

Further uses of the present invention include microcellular foams, the reaction of the alcohol with materials such as acrylic or methacrylic acids to give radiation curable coatings. The alcohols of the present invention may also be used as lubricants or oil substitutes. A further use of the present alcohol compounds are their formation into glycidyl ethers and their subsequent use as a new type of epoxy coating. A further use of the geminal alcohol is in cosmetic preparations particularly as an emollient.

The primary aspect of the present invention, however, is the use of the alcohols so formed as reaction products with isocyanates to form polyurethanes. To form the urethane reaction product of the alcohol a reaction is conducted which requires the presence of an organic polyisocyanate compound.

Suitable polyisocyanates include ethylene diisocyanate, trimethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, propylene-1,2-diisocyanate, ethylidene diisocyanate, cyclopentylene-1,3-diisocyanate, the 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexylene diisocyanate, the 1,3- and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanates, polymethylene polyphenylene-isocyanates, the 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanates, the 1,3- and 1,4-xylylene diisocyanates, bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane, 4,4'-diphenyl-propane diisocyanate, bis(2-isocyanatoethyl)carbonate, 1,8-diisocyanato-p-menthane, 1-methyl-2,4-diisocyanato-cyclohexane, the chlorophenylene diisocyanates, naphtinalene-1,5-diisocyanate triphenylmethane-4,4',4"-triisocyanate, isopropylbenzene-alpha-4-diisocyanate, 5,6-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene diisocyanate, 5,6-diisocyanatobutylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and similar polyisocyanate.

Of particular interest in the present invention are trimethylene hexamethyl diisocyanate available from VEBA, heptadecyl (C17) diisocyanate, DDI 1410 an aliphatic C-36 diisocyanate available from the Henkel Corporation of Minneapolis, Minn. (Generally diisocyanates having from 12 to 40 carbons in the aliphatic radical may be used in the present invention), toluene diisocyanate available from Allied Chemical, isophorone diisocyanate available from VEBA and Desmodur N an aliphatic triisocyanate available from Moby. Desmodur N is more particularily defined the tri-isocyanate adduct of 3 moles of hexamethylene diisocyanate and water having an isocyanate equivalent weight as later defined of 191 grams. Other adducts or prepolymers of the polyisocyanate include Desmodur L and Mondur CB which are also adducts of toluene diisocyanate. The foregoing materials have an isocyanate equivalent weight of approximately 250 grams.

The amount of the polyisocyanate utilized in forming the urethane compositions of the present invention is expressed on a percentage equivalent weight basis with respect to the hydroxyl functionality of the alcohol. Desirably each hydroxy functional group on the alcohol will react on a 1:1 stoichiometric basis with the isocyanate functionality on the polyisocyanate compound. It is quite feasible, however, to form the urethane linkage using from about 80% to 120% preferably from about 95% to 105% on a hydroxyl-isocyanate equivalent basis of the polyisocyanate to form the urethane product.

To determine the amount of the polyisocyanate required for a given saturated polyol the hydroxyl or isocyanate equivalent weight of the respective polyol or polyisocyanate is determined as that weight in grams of the material which contains 1 gram equivalent weight of the respective functional group. More particularly to determine the number of equivalents in a given saturated polyol the hydroxyl value is first determined by known methods and reported in milligrams of potassium hydroxide. The calculation to determine the hydroxyl equivalents is then given by the following equation: ##EQU1## where 56,100 is the milligram equivalent weight of potassium hydroxide.

Alternatively if the weight percentage of the hydroxyl groups in the saturated polyol is known the hydroxyl equivalent is determined as follows: ##EQU2## where 17 is the equivalent weight of the hydroxyl radical and the weight percent OH is the percentage of the saturated polyol which is hydroxyl groups

In similar fashion the isocyanate equivalent may be determined if the weight percent of the isocyanate functional groups in the polyisocyanate is known. This equation is given below where 42 is the molecular weight of an isocyanate functional group and the weight percent NCO is that portion of polyisocyanate made up of isocyanate functional groups. ##EQU3##

To form the urethane reaction product the alcohol of the present invention and the organic polyisocyanate are merely mixed together in the proper proportions. When utilized as a coating the compounds are then quickly spread with a knife blade brush or spray over the surface of the article to be coated. Where molded articles are desired various techniques such as reaction injection molding. Specific techniques for forming urethane reaction products are hereinafter described in the examples.

If desired various urethane catalysts may be employed to promote the reaction. Examples of such urethane catalysts include triethylene diamine, morpholine, N-ethyl-morpholine, dimethyl piperazine, triethylamine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylbutane-1,3-diamine, dibutyltin dilaurate, stannous octoate, stannous laurate, dioctyltin diacetate, lead octoate, stannous oleate, stannous tallate, dibutyltin oxide, and hexabutylditin as well as other art recognized urethane catalysts. Typical levels of the urethane catalyst are from about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of the urethane linking components.

An additional polyol may be included with the alcohols of the present invention. Such polyols may be an alkyl or cycloalkyl polyol, an ester linked polyol, an ether linked polyol, an ether and ester linked polyol or hydroxy functional acrylic copolymers.

Specific examples of alkyl and cycloalkyl polyols include 2,5-hexanediol available from Aldrich Chemical, 1,6-hexanediol, available from Celanese Chemical, ethylene glycol available from Baker, Dimerol a 36 carbon essentially linear diol available from General Mills Chemicals, Inc., glycerol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol available from Union Carbide, pentaerythritol, and 1,4-cyclohexane diol. Additional examples of such polyols include Polybd R-45HT a Butadiene diol having an approximate molecular weight of 2800 available from Arco and Trimethylol propane available from Celanese.

The ester linked saturated diols of the present invention are more particularily described as polyols where the predominate linkage (functional group other than the hydroxyl) are ester radicals. The ester linked saturated polyols are structurally represented as ##STR2## where R and R' are organic residues which contain at least two hydroxyl radicals and at least one ester link.

Examples of ester linked saturated polyols include Niax PCP0200 and PCP0240 both available from Union Carbide and having respective molecular weights of approximately 530 and 2000. Both of the foregoing compounds are diols. Niax PCP0300 also available from Union Carbide is a Caprolactone-ester triol having approximate molecular weight of 540. Niax PCP0310 also available from Union Carbide is a Caprolactone-ester triol having a molecular weight of approximately 900.

The other linked saturated polyols of the present invention include compounds such as diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol both available from Fisher. Further ether linked saturated polyols useful in the present invention include the Polymeg Q0650, Q0100, and Q0200 all of which are ether diols available from Quaker having a respective molecular weight of approximately 650, 1000 and 2000. Pluarcol P1010 having an approximate molecular weight of 1050 available from Wyandotte is an example of a polypropylene oxide ether linked diol useful in the present invention. Similar Wyandotte products useful as saturated polyols in the present invention include Pluracol TP440 and 150 which are propylene oxide ether linked triols having respective molecular weights of approximately 425 and 1560. In similar fashion Pluaracol GP3030 is another saturated polyol suitable for the present invention available from Wyandotte. The foregoing material is a glycerine polypropylene ether linked triol having an approximate molecular weight of 2900.

Additional Pluracols useful in the present invention include Pluarcol PEP450 wich is a pentaerythritol polypropylene oxide ether linked tetrol having a molecular weight of 405 and Pluracol 493 an ether linked tetrol having a molecular weight of approximately 3630.

Ester and ether linked saturated polyols suitable in the present invention are described structurally as ##STR3## where R, R' and R" are organic residues containing at least two hydroxyl radicals and at least one ester and one ether linkage.

The following exemplify the present invention.

EXAMPLE I

The manufacture of the formyloctadecanol of the present invention is accomplished by charging a 1 liter Magne Drive, 316 SS autoclave with 606 grams (2.26 moles) of oleyl alcohol, 3.01 grams of 5% rhodium on alumina and 3 grams (9.68 moles) of triphenylphosphite.

The autoclave is sealed and pressurized to 10 atmospheres with nitrogen under stirring and then vented to atmospheric pressure. The nitrogen purge is repeated twice more to ensure removal of any oxygen present in the autoclave.

The autoclave is then pressurized a third time with premixed carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas in a 1 to 1 molar ratio to 68 atmospheres at which point heating is started. Stirring is manually controlled at 1250 rpm and the uptake of the mixture of the gases starts at about 100 degrees C.

The reaction conditions are then maintained at a temperature of 130 degrees C. and the gas pressure at 70 to 75 atmospheres.

The reaction is substantially complete after 4.6 hours and is determined by the cessation of the gas uptake. The confirmation of completeness of the reaction is obtained by sampling the mixture and determining through gas chromatograph analysis that there is less than 1% of the starting alcohol in the mixture.

The reaction mixture is then cooled to 75 degrees C., vented to atmospheric pressure and purged twice with nitrogen. The contents of the autoclave are then discharged at 75 degrees C. under nitrogen pressure through a pressure filter. The yield of the formyloctadecanol is greater than 90%. Atomic absorption analysis of the filtered product showed 244 ppm of rhodium.

The reaction may be modified by using triphenylphosphine in place of the triphenylphosphite. Alternatively the oleyl alcohol may be substituted for by linoleyl or linolenyl alcohol. The reaction temperature may also be lowered to 90 degrees C. at which point the reaction takes a substantially longer period of time to proceed. As a second alternative the reaction temperature can be raised to about 170 degrees C. and the reaction time considerably lowered. However, some decomposition of the end product may occur above the 170 degree figure so it should not be exceeded.

In similar fashion the mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen may be varied as previously described in the Detailed Description of the Invention and may also be varied between about 20 and 500 atmospheres of pressure. The lower end of the pressure range of course slows the reaction rate down while the higher pressure condition increases the reaction but also increases the probability that some of the starting alcohol will be saturated by the hydrogen.

EXAMPLE II

5.26 moles (1570 grams) of the formyloctadecanol obtained from Example I is charged into a 5 liter glass round bottom reaction flask equipped with a heat exchanger coil, thermocouple, stirrer, addition inlet, reflux condensor and combination glass electrode. A further reaction charge of 695 grams (12.87 moles) of a 55.6% formaldehyde in methanol solution is added under a nitrogen blanket. A 40% solution of sodium hydroxide is made by dissolving 245.7 grams (5.95 moles) of sodium hydroxide in 368 grams of water under a nitrogen blanket. The caustic solution is added to a charge tank and connected to the feed side of a metering pump.

The reaction mixture is heated to 30 degrees C. and the caustic carefully added by means of a metering pump with stirring to adjust the pH to about 10.9. After about forty minutes at 30 degrees C. the addition of the 40% caustic solution is started at a rate of 9.65 milliliters per minute and the temperature of the reaction is increased to 60 degrees C. The addition of caustic required about 45 minutes and the reaction temperature was maintained at 60 degrees C. Gas chromatograph analysis of a sample taken at this time indicated that the reaction was complete and that the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl) alcohol corresponding to the formyloctadecanol is formed.

The reaction is held for an additional 20 minutes at 60 degrees C. after completion of the caustic addition. The stirring is then stopped and the lower aqueous phase (816 grams) was allowed to separate.

After washing of the crude gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol and its drying under vacuum the amount recovered is 1711 grams corresponding to a yield of greater than 90%.

Alternatively linoleyl or linolenyl alcohol derivatives of Example I may be employed under similar conditions. The reaction temperature for the production of the bishydroxymethyloctadecanol may also be conveniently varied between 0 degrees C. and 100 degrees C. as previously discussed.

An alternative method of obtaining the bishydroxymethyloctadecanol is to use 6.43 moles of the 55.6% formaldehyde solution thereby yielding the corresponding hydroxymethyl formyloctadecanol as an insolatable product. This material is then reduced through catalytic hydrogenation with copper chromite or through the use of lithium aluminum hydride to give the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol.

EXAMPLE III

The formyl alcohol of Example I is divided into separate streams and one part is converted to the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl) alcohol of Example II. The second stream is hydrogenated by charging 1928 grams (6.46 moles) of the formyloctadecanol and a slurry of 108 grams of water-wet Raney nickel which has been washed twice with two 100 ml portions of ethanol.

The autoclave (316 SS) is sealed and pressurized to 10 atmospheres of nitrogen with stirring. The autoclave is then vented and then purged twice more with nitrogen to ensure that the oxygen is substantially removed.

The autoclave is then pressurized to 55 atmospheres with hydrogen and stirring is commenced. The temperature is controlled between about 100 degrees C. and 116 degrees C. with the hydrogen uptake complete to give the diol in about 2 hours at a yield of greater than 90%.

The diol is then mixed with the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl) alcohol in the desired proportions to give a liquid product.

EXAMPLE IV

The procedure of the preceeding example is followed utilizing 221 grams (0.67 moles) of the 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol, 418 grams (7.21 moles) of propylene oxide and 3.32 grams of the 50% potassium hydroxide solution. The yield of crude product is 616 grams and the product following analysis after acidification, water washing and vacuum drying is a propoxylated alcohol having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 289, a water residue of 0.01%, viscosity at 24 degrees C. of 4.8 poise and an average added number of propoxy groups of 3.09 per hydroxyl group on the starting alcohol.

This product may also be capped with an average of 1 mole of ethylene oxide per propoxy group as previously described.

In similar fashion a propoxylated mixture of the 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol and the corresponding 9(10)-hydroxymethyloctadecanol may be obtained by using the mixtures of Example III.

EXAMPLE V

The ethoxylation of the 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol of the present invention is conducted as follows. Into a 1 liter, Hastalloy C stirred autoclave is placed 330 grams (0.956 moles) of the 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 115 and adding thereto 3.3 grams of a 50% solution of potassium hydroxide in water. The autoclave is then heated to 93 degrees C. under reduced pressure of about 5 torr to effect complete removal of the water. This is done to ensure that when the ethylene oxide is added that a polyethylene glycol is not formed rather than the desired end product.

Following the above procedure the autoclave is then pressurized with nitrogen and heated slowly to 125 degrees C. with the pressure rising to about 2 atmospheres. 407 grams (9.25 moles) of ethylene oxide is then slowly metered into the autoclave over a period of three hours while controlling the temperature such that the reaction proceeds at from about 125 to about 130 degrees C.

After this time the autoclave is cooled to about 60 degrees C. and the pressure reduced at 20 torr to remove the traces of ethylene oxide remaining in the reaction mixture. The alkaline catalyst is then removed from the product by treatment with a sulfonic acid ion exchange resin, Amberlyst 15 (acid form). The vacuum dried product is found to contain 14 ppm of potassium and has a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 277 corresponding to an average of 3.68 ethylene oxide units added to each hydroxyl of the starting alcohol.

The above reaction may be modified by using 441 grams of the alcohol (1.33 moles), 194 grams (4.4 moles) of the ethylene oxide and 4.4 grams of the above described potassium hydroxide. After conducting the reaction as described previously it is found that the hydroxyl equivalent weight of the reaction product is 158 and the average degree of ethoxylation per hydroxyl group on the starting alcohol is 1.09.

It is noted that the acid catalyzed route for the manufacture of the ethoxylated alcohol may also be used. In similar fashion the 9(10)-hydroxymethyl octadecanol alcohol may be ethoxylated in substantially similar fashion in the above example to give the desired ethoxylated product. In fact it is found possible by the above method to ethoxylate either the dihydric or trihydric alcohol of the present invention to as high as 50 moles of ethylene oxide per hydroxyl group on the respective starting alcohol. A desirable alternative in the present invention is the use of a mixture of the dihydric and trihydric alcohols in the ethoxylation process.

EXAMPLE VI

The propoxylation of 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol is prepared according to Example III using 392 grams (1.19 moles) of the alcohol, 223 grams (3.8 moles) of the propylene oxide and 3.92 grams of the 50% potassium hydroxide.

The yield of crude product following propoxylation is about 615 grams which is purified by washing the product in a 1:1 mixture with toluene and a 1% sulfuric acid solution followed by 3 water washes. The variation in which the potassium hydroxide is removed in this case using an aqueous system is due to the fact that the propylated alcohol is sufficiently water insoluble to allow an effective separation.

The final dried product has the following analysis. The average added degree of propoxylation per hydroxyl group of the starting alcohol is 1.1, while the product has a viscosity at 24.5 degrees C. of 15 poise and a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 174. This example may be modified by capping the propoxylated alcohol with ethylene oxide in accordance with the previous examples. This benefically gives a product which contains a primary hydroxyl group at the end of the alkoxy chain. That is, the preponderant product with propoxylation is a product with a secondary hydroxyl and such materials react considerably slower than do the ethylene oxide capped adduct (primary hydroxyl).

EXAMPLE VII

The urethane adducts of propoxylated 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol are formed into a series of coatings on metal sheets. The series of coatings shown in Table II below are as follows: (A) the geminal alcohol propoxylated to an average of one mole of propylene oxide per hydroxyl group on the alcohol, (B) the geminal alcohol propoxylated to an average degree of 2.9 propoxy groups per hydroxyl group on the alcohol, where A and B are both prepared with a 10% equivalent isocyanate excess of Desmodur N75, a polyisocyanate which is a biuret of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate available from Mobay.

Coatings C and D are respectively identical to A and B with the exception that T 1890, a polyisocyanate is used in place of the Desmodur N75. T 1890 is an isocyanurate of isophorone diisocyanate which is available from Veba Chemie.

The coatings are prepared by spraying them onto a metal surface (Bonderite 1000) to a 3 mm. thickness and cured at room temperature.

Table II shows representative properties of coatings A through D.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________                A      B     C      D                                               __________________________________________________________________________     Pencil Hardness                                                                           2B-B   3B-2B F-H    B-HB                                            Impact Resistance                                                              Forward    160    160   8      160                                             Reverse    160    160   2      160                                             Chemical Resistance                                                            HCl   24 hours                                                                            No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                                                            No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                       CH.sub.3 COOH                                                                        24 hours                                                                            No Effect                                                                             Blistered                                                                            No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                                         24 hrs.                                                      NaOH  24 hours                                                                            No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                                                            No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                       MEK        Softened                                                                              Softened                                                                             Softened                                                                              Softened                                                   1 hr.  1 hr. 1 hr.  1 hr.                                           Xylene     Slightly                                                                              Softened                                                                             Softened                                                                              Softened                                                   Soft 1 hr.                                                                            1 hr. 1 hr.  1 hr.                                           Gasoline   No Effect                                                                             Softened                                                                             Softened                                                                              Softened                                                          6 hrs.                                                                               6 hrs. 6 hrs.                                          Skydrol    No Effect                                                                             No Effect                                                                            Softened                                                                              Softened                                                                6 hrs. 6 hrs.                                          Adhesion                                                                       Crosshatch 100%   100%  100%*  100%                                            __________________________________________________________________________      *Coating chipped when scratched.                                         

The products described above show excellent resistance when tested under the severe conditions in standard industry tests. Substantially similar results are obtained by using the corresponding ethoxylate in place of the propoxylate. If desired the cross-linked density of the coating may be lowered by substituting 15% of 9(10)-hydroxymethyl octadecanol for the geminal alcohol in the above coatings.

EXAMPLE VIII

The monoethoxylated 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol may be utilized as a liquid detergent composition by combining 80 parts of the monoethoxylated alcohol with 20 parts of sodium lauryl benzene sulfonate. The product obtained is a heavy duty liquid detergent composition. The combination is of particular interest because it affords a low sudsing detergent composition with excellent cleaning ability on oily soils. The ethoxylated alcohol of the present invention may also be utilized in solid products by spraying it onto detergent granules which are formed in accordance with the art.

EXAMPLE IX

The gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol may be utilized as an anionic detergent product per se by sulfating via the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,316 issued Jan. 13, 1976 to Sagel et al. The product is then used in conventional fashion as the primary anionic surfactant in a granular built detergent composition. The product is observed to be particularly low foaming and thus has use not only as a laundry detergent product but also as an automatic dishwashing detergent product. Greater water solubility of the surfactant is obtained by first ethoxylating and thereafter sulfating the geminal alcohol.

A particularly useful variation of the present invention is to combine the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol sulfate with the 9(10)hydroxymethyl octadecanol sulfate. This mixture is advantageous in that one of the compounds presents an extremely dense anionic character whereas the other compound presents a long hydrophobic tail which is often desired in detergent products. This latter mixture may also be ethoxylated prior to sulfation.

A further interesting variation of the present invention is to partially sulfate the alcohols thereby imparting wetting agent and anti-foam properties.

EXAMPLE X

The coprolactone adduct of the gem-bis(hydroxymethyl)al cohol of Example III is prepared by charging into a 500 ml round bottom flask (with thermowell and claisen head with Friedrich condenser and 100 ml receiver) 111.6 grams of the alcohol, 196.7 grams of epsilon-caprolactone and 0.17 gram dibutyl oxide as a catalyst. The mixture is stirred with heating at 170 degrees C. under a nitrogen blanket.

The coprolactone adduct of the alcohol is found to yield after recovery 304.9 grams of product having a Brookfield viscosity of 13.75 poise at 26 degrees C. The product has a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 312.2 and an acid number of 1.0. The product so obtained is useful in forming polyurethanes.

The above example may be modified by charging 496.0 grams of the coprolactone and 0.31 gram of the catalyst. The yield of the adduct is 603.7 grams and has a viscosity at 30 degrees C. of 11.95 poise. The hydroxyl equivalent weight is 618.6 and the acid number is 1.1.

Substantially similar results are obtained by using the poly(oxy)alkylenes previously described as a capping agent for the adduct or by capping the poly(oxy)alkylene adducts with the coprolactone. The foregoing variations using the diol described in Example III. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A poly(oxy)alkylene adduct of a geminal bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol selected from the group consisting of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol, 10,10-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanol and mixtures thereof. 